Summer of Sustainability at Slapfish on now

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

This week, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish launched a campaign entitled “Summer of Sustainability” which runs for six weeks and features a new item each week. Andrew has always been a leader in using sustainable seafood, first on his gourmet food truck, and now, in his restaurant. We were invited in to try all six items all you seafood lovers will be treated to in the next month and a half. (photo courtesy of Mona Shah-Anderson)

Week One (June 3-June 9) going on right now until Sunday features Wild Pacific Albacore Tuna Melt ($9.50) a richly flavored flaked albacore sandwiched between rustic sourdough filled with spinach, cucumber, tomato, and “awesome sauce”.

Week Two (June 10-June 16) which starts on Monday is a BBQ Yellowtail Banh Mi Sandwich ($9.50) a play on the traditional banh mi with fresh baked Vietnamese baguette, picked radish, cucumber, carrots, jalapeno and spiced yellowtail topped with grill sauce. The flavors are intense and addicting and was one of my favorites of the featured items.

Week Three (June 17-June 23) will appeal to those who love mild white fish. Alaskan Halibut Po Boy ($11) is fried halibut in a toasted roll packed with lettuce, tomato and pickled peppers and the most delicious tabasco aioli to boot. I loved the spicy kick of this creation!

Week Four (June 24-June 30) will have me rolling back to Huntington Beach again for this stunning Crispy White Seabass Taco ($7). I couldn’t believe how light this fried corn shell was. It wasn’t greasy or viscous at all. Light and crunchy, the pickled red onion and cabbage, with the flaky fish drizzled with rooster dressing is absolutely perfect!!

Week Five’s (July 1-July 7) Copper River Salmon Hand Pie is more a pastry than a pie. The salmon, avocado and chiles and rolled in phyllo dough and gently fried and served with a tomatillo sauce on the side. The piquant flavor of the tomatillo marries perfectly with the flaky pie.

I wasn’t able to taste Week Six’s (July 8-July14) Baked Carlsbad Luna Oysters (market price) because of my oyster allergy, but it looked marvelous. Topped with a wild mushroom and bacon stuffing and baked, you can order these to your liking — one, two, four, or a dozen!

You have only a few days left to enjoy the wild albacore tuna melt and this week’s giveaway won’t make it in time for you to go, but I highly recommend you just DO IT! I have a $35 giftcard to Slapfish, entries end on Sunday, winner announced Monday. Leave me a comment and tell me which of these six items you would most like to try. You have to leave your FULL name in order for your entries to be valid. Good Luck!

Slapfish
19696 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Tel: 714-964-3900

Early Bird’s tasty dinner menu launches tomorrow!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

Last week I attended a preview of Early Bird’s new dinner menu which is launching tomorrow night starting at 5.30pm. Chef Frank DeLoach has created small and large plates which rotates seasonally depending on what’s available on the market. Small plates are priced between $7-$10, while large plates will run around $11-$15. The Dungeness crab is market price and requires a one-day advance request at time of reservation.

We started with some salads. Early Season Greens is a palate bursting canvas of white lemon, strawberry, pecans, mint, edible flowers, radish and basil. The dressing is all lemon and you can taste the freshness in each mouthful. Love the textural contrast of all the ingredients too!

Summer Squash was a combination of shaved squash and chunks of green and yellow baby squashes tossed with za’atar and sumac and dotted with slices of preserved lemon and pickled shallots. Crunchy, fresh, tart, just a wonderful vibrant pop in your mouth every time.

I didn’t think I’d like Pork Belly Po’ Boy but the flavors were incredible! Smoked sriracha and B&B pickles gave the sliders a spicy, tart, rich deliciousness so comforting yet so complex in flavor.

One of my favorites of the evening was Salt Cod. I am a sucker for salt and combine that with crispy rice and Thai chiles and all the flavors I love? Well, need I say more? One more please!

Sweetbreads was my least favorite of the night, but strangely, my son loved it. I can never tell if he’d like it or not. I was even afraid to tell him what it was thinking he wouldn’t try it, and when I told him they were brains, he replied “oh, they were good”. That kid always surprises me! Maybe it was the finely diced crunch of the celery, or the hot sauce and ranch that he loved. Regardless, my kid ate “brains” and liked it!! Who woulda thunk?

I saw Poutine go to other tables around me and was afraid we wouldn’t get to try it, but we did. Tender beef cheeks over crispy fries topped with Oregon cheddar and a runny egg, who could ask for more? It was a comfort food lover’s wet dream! This was another winner!

I love fried chicken and if the salt cod wasn’t enough to tempt me, the Twice Fried Chicken cinched the deal. The coating was crispy and had flavors which brought me to my childhood even though when I questioned Chef Frank on the ingredients, there were none which brought my palate to its ratatouille moment. Hmmm, maybe he was lying? Regardless, this is a must order on a return visit.

When Singaporean Chili Crab arrived, I knew it was all over. Early Bird has got me hook line and sinker. I grew up in southeast Asia and chili crab is something I am extremely familiar with. Although this isn’t exactly what you will find in Singapore, Chef Frank’s version is pretty damn good.

The sweet spicy flavors (oooooooooo I’m salivating just writing this up) were too much for the wusses at my table and I ended up devouring almost the entire portion on my own. Oh well, too bad for them because it was incredible. All I wanted was some piping hot steamed rice to eat the remaining sauce with.

We ended with Street Melon, a perfect finish to a 99% perfect meal. The watermelon sprinkled with Mexican chile and lemon spices topped with lime ice and beer emulsion cleansed the palate and didn’t overwhelm our very full stomachs.

Early Bird’s dinner menu is a winner in my book. Simple dishes bursting with flavor, but most of all, familiar flavors which bring me back to a time lost to adulthood. Maybe they won’t be ratatouille moments for you, but it doesn’t matter because good tasting food is good tasting food no matter how you look at it.

Early Bird
1000 #B East Bastanchurry Road
Fullerton, CA 92835
Tel: 714-529-4100

one of my faves opens new location

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

This is my 500th post and it is befitting that I write about one of my favorites! It is no secret I love Veggie Grill. From the very first time I tried them six years ago, I have not lost my desire to eat this absolutely delicious vegetarian fare.

Their latest location in Laguna Niguel is just another reason to give Veggie Grill a try if you haven’t already been introduced to them. I love how each location has its own unique decor while still keeping in tune with its signature style and colors.

I’ve positively had everything on the menu and although 90% of the items I love, there are definitely some that are dearer to my heart than the others. If you are a salad fan, there are lots to choose from starting with the Thai Salad ($9.95). Romaine, cabbage, corn salsa, green onion, mandarin oranges, sesame seeds, cilantro, wonton strips are tossed in a spicy Thai dressing and topped with with either grilled chickin or tempeh.

I love the buffalo wings and you can have them on a salad by ordering B-Wing Salad ($9.95). These deliciously spicy tart buffalo wings are served over chopped romaine, avocado, celery, toasted corn salsa in a creamy ranch dressing. So mouth puckering good!

One of my favorite salads is the All Hail Kale ($7.25 lunch size/$8.95 entree size). Not only is it healthy, but it is so delicious as well, so good that even my son loves it. Marinated kale and red cabbage are chopped into bite-sized pieces and tossed with corn salsa, agave roasted walnuts in a ginger papaya vinaigrette. You can add tempeh or blackened chickin for $2.75.

If salads aren’t your thing then I suggest getting a sandwich. Papa’s Portobello ($8.50) consists of a large meaty grilled mushroom, topped with chopped tomato, basil and garlic pomodoro, caramelized onions, pesto, lettuce, red onion and drizzled with chipotle ranch.

The All American Stack ($8.95) is one of my son’s favorites! Grilled veggie steak, pickles, lettuce, tomato and crispy onion rings topped with thousand island dressing complete this burger.

If you’re a fan of the buffalo wings like I am, then you’ll love the Buffalo Bomber ($8.95) with a crispy chickin’ pattie tossed with spicy buffalo sauce assembled with tomato, red onion, lettuce and creamy ranch dressing. So so good!

If you just want the buffalo chickin on its own then totally order the Buffalo wings ($6.95). These chickin strips are served with celery sticks and creamy ranch dressing and I always order them on every visit.

Chill Out Wings ($6.50) are another favorite. These are the fried chickin strips served with tangy BBQ sauce and chipotle ranch. My son usually orders two serves of this but ends up sharing them with me in exchange for my buffalo ones.

There are also entree style plates such as Crispy Chickin’ Plate ($9.95) is so good you wouldn’t even miss the carnivorous kind. Fried chickin with cauli-mashed potatoes are accompanied by a flavorful porcini mushroom gravy with fresh rosemary and served with a side of steamin’ kale. For me, this is comfort food without the cholesterol!

Blackened Chickin Plate ($9.50) is a nicely charred piece of chickin topped with papaya salsa and served with steamin’ kale and quinoa pilaf. Talk about healthy! This is a totally guilt-free and filling meal.

if you’re not full yet from everything, you can try some of the desserts on offer. The new soft serve — vanilla, chocolate or swirl (with or without Oreo crumble) — is a good choice and kids love it!

Or, the carrot cake is absolutely delicious! None of the desserts are overly sweet which appeals to me!

If you haven’t tried Veggie Grill yet, here’s a chance for you to do it. I have two $15 gift cards to give away courtesy of Veggie Grill. Leave me a comment with your FULL name and tell me whether or not you’ve been before and why you love it, or, if you haven’t, then why you would like to try! Entries end on Friday, May 3rd.

Veggie Grill
27321 La Paz Road
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Tel: 949-362-9649

LA’s Farmshop disappoints

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

It was The Hungry Dogg‘s birthday, so we made the trek up to LA to lunch at Farmshop, a place which has been on my list to try for a very long time. Stupidly, we didn’t think to make reservations and waited 45 minutes for a table. Luckily, the market area kept us occupied, not to mention the celebrity sightings — Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were lunching with friends — which made the wait tolerable.

The hostess was very sweet and apologetic, especially after she found out we were celebrating a birthday. After we were seated, we proceeded to order right away, after all, we’ve had 45 minutes to peruse the menu and had pretty much decided what we wanted.

The birthday boy ordered an Red Eye Martini ($14) with fresh Madagascar vanilla bean infused soju and LAMill cold brewed coffee. Although we had expected the cocktail to arrive prior to our meal, we didn’t get it until after our last dishes arrived. The drink tasted like an iced coffee with barely a hint of alcohol.

Brown Umbrian Lentil Soup ($12) was flavorful and they were kind enough to split it for us (even though we didn’t ask for it). They brought the poached hen egg on the side — not sure if that’s the way they served it or it was done for our benefit because they had split the order. Tasso ham bits were found in Austin’s bowl, but not mine so I ended up fishing out some to taste. A sliver of chicories — not sure which kind — was also floating in our soup. I liked the taste but wished they had left some lentils whole for textural contrast.

We ordered the Fried Weiser Farm Potatoes ($10.50 full portion) as a side portion. Nothing special, and they forgot to bring the accompanying housemade ketchup, wild herbs and aioli with the potatoes. I waited a few minutes and still didn’t see it so asked the server for it.

Our favorite item of the meal was Potted Fresh & Smoked Salmon Rillettes ($17.50). Perfectly seasoned with a nice smokey taste without being overpowering and the fresh chives added a nice freshness. Served with toasted rye bread, caper berries, pickled vegetables and baby lettuce.

The Community Grains Pappardelle ($20) sounded great on paper with English pea and their greens, local walnuts, sheep’s milk ricotta and crispy fried artichokes. Unfortunately, the entire dish was dry and underseasoned. At $20, not only was it expensive, but it was one dimensional and bland which was very disappointing. I brought it home and tweaked it by adding some salt and a bit of moisture so not to waste it.

Steak Sandwich ($18.50) is served medium rare, but it was pretty raw in the center. Again, the coriander marinated skirt steak was under-seasoned and if you didn’t get some of the horseradish salsa verde on your mouthful, there was no taste. The ladies sitting next to us sent theirs back because it was too under-cooked, but we had to get back on the road so we packed that up as well.

Overall, disappointing considering the price point of the dishes. Our meal was over $100, tip included for two with one cocktail and mediocre service. Based on this visit, I’m in no hurry to return any time soon.

Farmshop
225 26th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90402
Tel: 310-566-2400

a meal for the Animal in you

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

It’s been several years since I last visited Animal. I never wrote about it because my photos didn’t come out the last time and I never post anything without at least reasonably clear photos. On this trip, I made sure to bring my good camera, plus lighting because I remembered how dark it was in the restaurant.

My friends and I left really early so we’d make our 6.30pm reservation. We couldn’t believe our luck when we dodged Friday afternoon LA traffic and arrived 45 minutes before our time and managed to find decent parking as well!

We started with a few beers, but pretty much launched straight into ordering! The Chicken Liver Toast ($3) was so good we had two orders of these. The chicken liver was creamy with a smoky caramelized shallot topping adding a hint of sweetness.

I remember Pig Tails ($11) from my previous visit, but unfortunately, some at the table weren’t fans of buffalo sauce. I, on the other hand, loved it and was chewing the crispy parts off the bone with glee. Like a true buffalo style dish, it was accompanied by celery and ranch.

Although I wouldn’t recommend non-meat eaters to come to Animal because the menu is predominantly meat-centric, the Local Burrata ($12) was seriously good! Baby broccoli, katsuobushi, green garlic, leeks and jalapeno complete a very complex mouthful of flavors which even my son wanted more of.

Pig Ear ($12) was a plateful of thin strips of pig ear fried crispy, flavored with chili lime and topped with a runny fried egg. The oozing yolk added a creaminess to the crunch of the ears making this a hit with everyone at the table!

The richness of the Melted Petit Basque ($12) dotted with chorizo and served with grilled bread meant I only had room for a small portion. I was glad there were many of us to share this item even though I know my son wanted more, but we had a lot of food still to come.

My least favorite item of the evening was Shrimp & Rabbit Sausage Spring Roll ($13). The texture of the spring roll didn’t appeal to me. The filling was mushy and the entire dish bland and boring even with the green curry.

Hamachi Tostada ($15) on the other hand was my favorite. I remember this being a favorite from my previous visit and it wasn’t a surprise everyone loved it as well. The cabbage slaw with fresh herbs, fish sauce vinaigrette and peanuts made it a very Vietnamese flavored dish — refreshing and palate cleansing! We had another!

The Yellowtail Collar ($16) with jerk spices was strangely addicting but not everyone at the table felt that way. Some found the jerk seasoning killed the flavor of the fish and another found the texture of the fish spongey. I liked the combination of the citrus and palm sugar with the jerk spices making it a spicy, sweet and tart finish. It would’ve been better with a bowl of rice!

Another favorite was Poutine ($18) topped with oxtail gravy and cheddar. My son and Austin of The Hungry Dogg devoured the second plate very quickly! Rich and intensely flavored, this is comfort food perfection!

I could have eaten a whole plate of the Grilled Quail ($19) myself. The quail was not gamey at all. In fact, it was on the mild side. The plum char siu sauce with pear, apple, yogurt and pomegranate created a sweet tart finish which would have been even better had the quail been stronger. Still, it was absolutely delicious!

The star of the night in terms of entrees was definitely the Braised Rabbit Legs ($29). The mustard jus combined with the potato puree made for a creaminess like no other. The addition of bright green snap peas and flavorful mushrooms made this the ultimate in comfort eating. We were all very sad we had no room for another round of this.

If you still have room for dessert, there are four to choose from. Since I didn’t really care one way or another, the table chose Bacon Chocolate Crunch Bar ($8) s&p ice cream — nice if you like chocolate. Has a nice texture and the saltiness of the bacon was very mild.

The Page Mandarin Sherbet ($8) with cheesecake, sour grass granita and bits of meringue pieces didn’t do it for me. In fact, I thought it was weird and gross both in taste and texture. Austin was the only one who enjoyed this dessert.

If you haven’t had the Animal experience, I highly recommend you go and have one. Make a reservation because although walk-ins are accepted at the bar, chances are you won’t be able to get a seat. This is one of those places where the creativity and innovation behind the menu is truly eye-opening and you will be glad you did it!

Animal
435 N Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel: 323-782-9225

The Kitchen Takeover at Abigale Hermosa Beach

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Mad Hungry Woman

Last week, I attended a fun dinner up in Hermosa Beach where six chefs gathered to prepare a meal, together! The venue was Abigale’s, and the event, Kitchen Takeover, and takeover they did.

The restaurant was sold out for the night and I got a peek inside the kitchen where the six chefs had to share space. Given that it wasn’t very big, I was amazed how calm and collected everyone was and how smoothly everything felt.

While we waited for the evening to begin, we started with cocktails in the highly innovative and creative bar. The decor was eclectic, though leaning towards hipster chic, but nevertheless, perfect for the space which punk bands used to come and play.

My party sampled an array of drinks including Penelope ($11), a Serrano-chile infused tequila (made in-house) paired with grapefruit and agave, Keenan76 ($11), a sweet drink using Nolet (gin), St Germain, grapefruit and sparkling wine.

Before dinner, tray-passed appetizers made their way around the crowded room created by Chef Tin Vuong of Abigale. The first thing I popped into my mouth was P.I.G pop tarts, a pastry stuffed with smoked pork confit, bacon, and gruyere. Don’t ask me what the PIG stood for, but like a true pig, I took another after swallowing the first.

The next to arrive was Scallops Dynamite Tempura drizzled with a passion fruit bacon dressing. I like how they work here, not afraid to use bacon! This was so delicious I’m afraid I popped about three or four of them into my mouth.

Korean Pulled Pork Bao was seriously tasty and I found them to be as good (not in the same way) as those baos from Momofuku. The fresh kimchi was mild and added a fresh crunch to each mouthful. I tried to find another but sadly, there were none left.

My least favorite of the appetizers was Confit Duck Egg Roll served with a salsa verde resembling a chimichurri in aesthetics but not in taste. The salsa was on the bland side and the duck was too mushy for me.

There was also a seared ahi tuna in a ponzu sauce which was mouthwatering and appetite whetting.

By the time we sat down for dinner, my tummy was already pretty content. Seriously, I wasn’t sure how I was going to eat six courses and hoped that they would be small tasting plates.

When Crispy Prawn with Orange XO Hollandaise (by Tin Vuong , Abigale) arrived, I marveled at the pretty plate. The Asian flavors were very pleasing to me and the combination of red rice, lamb bacon, Dungeness crab and pea tendrils worked surprisingly well together.

The second course was by actor Dean McDermott, The Gourmet Dad) where he looked to his Scottish heritage and prepare his take on Haggis over Neeps & Tats. Keeping in mind that McDermott is not a professional chef, his dish was very respectable. The haggis needed a touch of salt, however, I commend him on the use of spices to offset any of the offensive gaminess usually associated with a poorly prepared haggis. I enjoyed it!

My least favorite course was this one from Jorges Valines of Venice’s Code Venice. Confit chicken leg was bland as was the mofongo — mashed plantains — and the salsa criolla didn’t do much to help with flavor. The best part of the dish was the crispy chicken skin served alongside.

The northern beef curry and egg noodles was something I’m very familiar with, although the ones I’ve had are not as thick in consistency. I loved the tender beef in the bowl which melted in my mouth. Jet Tila of The Charleston, Santa Monica also added julienned kaffir lime leaves to give it that ubiquitous Thai aroma I adore.

By the time Tony DiSalvo, executive chef of Santa Monica’s Viceroy‘s soy braised beef cheek arrived,I was already stuffed. I was really sad because the sausage was absolutely divine with nice textures and great flavor. The slice of beef tongue was also fork-tender and the addition of green apple, lime and jalapeno cilantro helped add freshness to the end result.

Dessert by Emily Collisson of Montage Beverly Hills was tocino del cielo, a take on the Spanish flan-like dish. The wedge of cooked custard was too sweet for me but the pimento flakes, charred pear and candied pine nuts were decent.

It was fun to see a bunch of chefs come together and have a good time cooking for people who love food. Even though dishes were hit and miss, I still enjoyed myself tremendously! Fun times!

Abigale
1301 Manhattan Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Tel: 310-798-8227

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